The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires" target="_blank">Black Saturday fires of 2009</a> destroyed Narbethong's community hall and afterwards <a href="http://www.bvn.com.au/" target="_blank">BVN Architecture</a> donated their services to design and build a new fireproof building to meet the community's needs. BVN Architecture drew inspiration from the surrounding bush and trees outside of Melbourne to design the structure and encased it in a fireproof mesh facade. The flexible, open floor plan building provides ample space for a variety of events, meetings and activities. Transparent but incredibly durable, the new Narbethong Community Hall has a direct connection with the surrounding nature and people passing by can see the lively activity going on inside.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

The Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 burned over 4,500 km² (450,000 hectares, 1.1 million acres), resulted in the lost of 173 people's lives and injured over 400.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Archtiecture

The damage to the areas surrounding Melbourne was extensive and disastrous and included the loss of the <a href="http://www.bvn.com.au/projects/narbethong_community_hall.html?OpenDocument&amp;idx=Type&amp;pcat=Public^Buildings" target="_blank">Narbethong Community Hall</a>, the only public space for residents of the area.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

Even before, the timber building lacked in adequate facilities for the community and was defenseless bushfires.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

BVN Architecture, with the help of <a href="http://www.arup.com/" target="_blank">ARUP</a>, donated their services to design a new hall with improved facilities, one that would have a more direct connection with the surrounding landscape and most importantly, would meet new fireproof building codes.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

According to <a href="http://www.bvn.com.au/pages/ninotschka_titchkosky_.html" target="_blank">Ninotschka Titchkosky</a>, Principal of BVN, "As Narbethong’s only public venue, the hall is the heart of the community. It is a space where local people can come together for meetings, recreation, celebrations and commiserations. In a small country community, a building like this holds great importance."

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

The structure was built to meet <a href="http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/2606-what-is-a-bushfire-attack-level-bal.asp" target="_blank">Bushfire attack levels</a> BAL 29, be low maintenance and survive on its own in case of fire so the community could focus on their homes and businesses.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

A fireproof bronze mesh encases the building and eliminates the chance of embers passing through and catching the building on fire.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

The inner structure is formed from floor to ceiling double-paned glass supported by fire-retardant Blackbutt timber mullions.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

Narbethong Community Hall after the fire.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

Flexible floor plan concepts.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

Narbethong Community Hall site plan.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

Narbethong Community Hall floor plan.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

Location of Narbethong with relation to Melbourne.

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Narbethong Community Hall-BVN Architecture

The Black Saturday fires of 2009 destroyed Narbethong's community hall and afterwards BVN Architecture donated their services to design and build a new fireproof building to meet the community's needs. BVN Architecture drew inspiration from the surrounding bush and trees outside of Melbourne to design the structure and encased it in a fireproof mesh facade. The flexible, open floor plan building provides ample space for a variety of events, meetings and activities. Transparent but incredibly durable, the new Narbethong Community Hall has a direct connection with the surrounding nature and people passing by can see the lively activity going on inside.